A record number of elephants died in Sri Lanka last year, mostly at the hands of people, environmental groups say.
Conservationists say 361 elephants died during 2019, the highest figure of deaths to be reported since the country became independent in 1948.
People are said to have used electric fences, poison and explosives to kill the animals.
Although it is illegal to kill the estimated 7,500 wild elephants in Sri Lanka, they are often targeted after coming into conflict with rural communities.
Sajeewa Chamikara, an environmentalist from the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, told the BBC 85 per cent of elephant deaths last year may have been caused by humans.
Mr Chamikara said, with villages and farms expanding in the country, the government needs to do more to improve the quality of protected areas.
"Our development plan is not eco-friendly. We need a sustainable development plan," he said.
